Augmented reality is simply a way for narcissists to increase their
exposure!

Augmented reality is the latest fad: one which will disappear once the
hype is over!

It seems that the news is now full of stories concerning augmented
reality; mostly in the context of the Google Glass project. Google
glasses have been banned from bars, casinos, locker rooms, healthcare
facilities and many government agencies. The fear is that, armed with a
forward facing camera, the devices will compromise peoples’ privacy and
perhaps disclose confidential information. The dynamic is definitely one
of concerned skepticism.

Nevertheless, augmented reality is entering the market, riding on the
coattails of increasingly capable smartphones and a rich ecosystem of
innovative software applications. Add in the new wave of wearable
devices, such as smart watches, and the market is primed for explosive
growth that will transform both mobility and consumer communication
services.

Regarding smart watches, just about every mobile device manufacturer is
introducing smart watches - Apple being the notable exception for now -
and consumers who use them tend to like them a lot. From the standpoint
of applications, the smart watch represents a new screen available to
present data in the context of the user and user location. Such a screen
provides a way to unobtrusively deliver information to a mobile
consumer; one in which the user is not distracted by the need to
interrupt an activity, such as working or driving. In fact, smart
watches are likely to turn around the dynamic that has been developing
where younger people have given up wearing wrist watches in favor of
simply looking at their smartphone.

Most mobile device manufacturers are exploring heads-up displays. And,
while unclear on how heads-up displays will play out in the consumer
market, there are already niches in the business space where such
devices are the best solution for enabling mobile workers: situations
such as manufacturing and health care.

In fact, augmented reality is largely penetrating the market under the
radar screen. Rather than appearing completely thought out, with a rigid
set of services, augmented reality is delivering usable and useful
solutions that consumers are already growing to depend upon. This trend
will continue, and will likely define augmented reality adoption over
the next year.

What is certain, though, is that augmented reality is driving a real
change in consumer expectations for their wearable computing devices.
Having devices and applications that cannot interact with GPS
positioning data to customize the delivery of information is no longer
acceptable. Augmented reality applications are now moving to penetrate -
and ultimately dominate - niche areas such as local search and
navigation; and will increasingly come to define applications that
enable social interactions and general Internet access.